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The beauty of waterjet cutting

When we say the beauty of waterjet cutting, we don’t just mean it’s a great, effective cutting process – we do actually mean the beauty that can be created with a waterjet. It’s a highly versatile cutting method that produces much less waste than other forms of cutting, which in turn allows for more diverse design. The ability to cut more intricate designs and patterns allows for more artistic license to be given to designers. More complex, artistic design often leads to a more beautiful end product.

So, we genuinely mean beauty in more than one sense.

The ability to cold cut means that almost any material can be cut without the adverse impact of heat; there is no heat affected zone. Multiple small cuts, swirls and channels can be made without the material bending, warping, burning or having any sort of reaction.
In addition to having no heat affected zone, what else makes waterjet cutting so versatile and effective in creating complex and diverse patterns and designs?

Omni-directional cutting
The ability to cut in any direction gives much more flexibility and accuracy. Many other cutting methods require a starting hole to be drilled, but this is not the case when using a waterjet. The highly pressurised waterjet is able to cut through most materials and with no need for starting holes complex designs and shapes can be easily cut.

Cutting width
The small kerf (or cutting width) allows for much better use of materials. Combined with the omni-directional cutting ability much smaller pieces can be machined or produced. In turn this means you have a better use and optimisation of the raw material being used. Less material used means less cost; something that will appeal to most, especially when the raw material being used is an expensive one.

Finishing
With other cutting methods there is often further finishing work needed to smooth the final cut to the desired standard. More complex design means more rounds of finishing work Often, this is not the case when using a waterjet to cut – the first cut finish is fine and in most cases there is no further finishing work required.

The above areas all relate specifically to versatility in areas of design but there are other factors that make waterjet cutting a joy to work with. No requirement for oils, emulsions or gas changes mean the cutting process is much quicker when working with multiple materials, and the process is more environmentally friendly too. Other methods can produce dust, chippings or hazardous gases; something not normally encountered with waterjet cutting.